On 30 mar 2010, at 05.18, Chris Hembree wrote:

> Can you remote into the K3 from the internet and talk on your rig?
> 
> Chris W7CTH

Yes you can. There are several paths to take, most of the including software 
like Ham Radio Deluxe but also at least two options using hardware to solve 
some of the communication between the station and control location.

I have been using both TRX-Manager and HRD with my K3 and they work fine, 
although not as stable as I would like things to be. Also the setup is 
complicated, turning on the radio has never been more complicated and the 
one-click-power-on approach has not really been implemented in those complex 
software packages. I have also used N1MM to control my K3 via a HRD serial 
server connection and it works very well, still a complicated setup.

All those software solutions lacks is the audio link and they assume you will 
use Skype or another VoIP solution for transferring RX and TX audio. I have 
found Skype convenient and easy to setup and use, but rather worthless when 
chasing weak DX because of the codecs, audio gating and auto leveling. Skype is 
simply optimized for telephony, not to carry SSB and CW information hidden i 
hight levels of background noise. The alternative is to use IPSound which 
requires a bit of work in setting it up, but you have a pick-list of audio 
codecs to customize the audio link for your needs. It also lets you transfer 
stereo sound for using the sub RX or diversity.

The other area where most software packages lacks are in CW. I have 
successfully used a Winkeyer USB in the station location, keying the station 
using macros and keyboard entry of messages. I am now trying to finds the best 
solution to use paddles in the control end of the link. Winkeyer recently 
released a server software enabling one Winkeyer to talk to another. I have not 
made it work properly yet, CW is choppy and some characters are dropped along 
the way. Guess I need to spend more time tuning the setup. The other option 
including CW is a hardware remote control system called Remoterig. It handles 
more than just CW, it is a complete solution including data communication, 
audio and CW. For the K3 you still need a computer in the control end, but with 
radios like the IC-706 Remoterig lets you replace the control cable between the 
front panel and the radio with an IP link eliminating the need of computers. 

I am hoping that Elecraft will consider a way to remote control the K3 via a 
hardware interface, ie. using one K3 to control another or simply a K3 front 
panel turned into a hardware controller usable with those hardware modems.

Here are the links to the above mentioned stuff;

HRD: http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/
TRX: http://trx-manager.com/
Winkeyer: http://k1el.com/
Remoterig: http://remoterig.com/
IPSound: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/ham-radio-manuals/
Skype: http://www.skype.com/

Have fun!

73 de Björn,
SM0MDG
SE0X






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